Brewers' Francisco Rodriguez, WMG In Dispute Over Fees, No-Trade List

Wasserman Media Group MLB agents are "embroiled in two separate, confidential arbitrations with former client Francisco Rodriguez over his trade last summer" from the Mets to the Brewers, a club he "had on a no-trade list that was never filed," according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Rick Johnson, Rodriguez’s attorney, said that "not filing the list of 10 teams with the Mets cost Rodriguez millions in earnings, in part because his role in Milwaukee is that of a setup reliever rather than a closer." Johnson also contends that Wasserman attorneys "reneged on an agreement to make an offer of at least $1 million to settle any legal claims Rodriguez might have against the agency and his former agents, Paul Kinzer and Arn Tellem." Johnson said that "no such lawsuit had been filed as of last Thursday." An attorney for Wasserman contends that Rodriguez "was not upset with the trade and is only bringing up the no-trade list now because he owes fees to the agency." Rodriguez "fired Tellem and Kinzer and hired Scott Boras just ahead of the trade" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/20 issue). Rodriguez "was not used in a save situation after being traded July 12." Johnson said, "He's going to lose a lot of money; the question is whether it's seven figures or eight figures" (USA TODAY, 2/20).